During the discussion ‘Mental health without silence: a dialogue by everyone and for everyone’, which took place yesterday at the Catholic University of Braga, the invited experts pointed to silence, social stigma and illiteracy as the main obstacles to mental health. The debate, moderated by Sara Barbosa of the Hospitaller Sisters of Braga, was attended by Marília Oliveira, social worker at the Hospitaller Sisters, Rui Ferreira, from the same institution in Braga, Marina Ribeiro, clinical and community psychologist at the Red Cross in Braga, and Mariana Mangas, psychiatrist at the Hospitaller Sisters of Braga. In her speech, Marília Oliveira spoke of the impacts of mental illness, particularly on the family, society, the economy, and businesses, in addition to the human cost of suicide. She presented data showing that, in 2022, the economic impact was 5.3 billion euros.
Social isolation and family breakdown were other consequences highlighted.
Rui Ferreira, in turn, emphasised social stigmas and the difficulty in asking for help and admitting that one has a problem. He recalled the myth that only weak people have problems. This leads people to be ashamed to admit it and ask for help. This shame also stems from the fact that people subsequently find it difficult to get a new opportunity, either at work or socially.
The psychiatrist defended the need for people to be better informed about mental health, precisely so that they can know whether it is an adaptive reaction, i.e., something that may pass with time, when the problem is heartbreak, grief, or illness; or whether it is something deeper. Mariana Mangas recalled that mental illness is “dynamic”, so only knowledge allows discernment.
Fruitful partnerships promoting mental health in Braga
Regarding the entities present, Joaquim Castro Freitas, from the Braga City Council, praised this fruitful partnership between the Hospitaller Sisters, the Braga Red Cross and the Catholic University, in favour of the mental health of the people of Braga and beyond.
Júlio Faceira Guedes recalled the mission and daily work of the Braga Red Cross, on a day that is above all about making concrete commitments to action for the psychological well-being of people, considering that ‘Braga would be different if we did not have the Hospitaller Sisters intervening’.
Júlio Faceira recalled that the Red Cross intervenes a lot at the end of the line, which is an increasingly challenging intervention. He believes that many of the people living on the streets today do so because they have had undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses throughout their lives.
On the subject of silence, Paulo Dias, from Católica de Braga, recalled that even Pope Francis, especially as bishop in Argentina, admitted that he needed and sought psychological help, which is why he is also a role model for the promotion of mental health. The head of Católica de Braga welcomed everyone and expressed his gratitude for the choice of the institution to host the event.
Paula Gomes, from the Hospitaller Sisters of Braga, spoke about the importance of the partnership. "We are happy to be partners in this journey to promote mental health and care for others. Mental health is a precious asset, often neglected and often stigmatised. But self-care is essential, as is caring for those around us and caring for others. It is not only a desirable practice, it is an act of collective responsibility," she said, renewing her commitment to continue caring for the mentally ill in Braga.
